NSA has massive database of Americans' phone calls — The National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone call records of tens of millions of Americans, using data provided by AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth, people with direct knowledge of the arrangement told USA TODAY.

Rove revamps the Republican strategy — With ratings down and an election coming up, the GOP take a new tack — President Bush and his longtime confidant and adviser, Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove. — WASHINGTON - This fall's election season is going to make the past three look like episodes of "Barney."

John Conyers: U.S. Owes Slavery Reparations — The left wing Democrat who will become chairman of the House Judiciary Committee if his party wins back Congress in November wants to hold full blown congressional hearings on whether the government should pay African Americans reparations for slavery.

The GOP's Bankruptcy of Ideas — The emerging Republican game plan for 2006 is, at bottom, a tautology: If the Democrats retake Congress it will mean, well, that the Democrats retake Congress. (Cue lightning bolt and ominous clap of thunder.) Karl Rove and his minions have plumb run out of issues to campaign on.

Abramoff's White House visits — Secret Service records released today under court order show that convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff made only two visits to the White House since President Bush took office in January 2001. — On March 6, 2001, Abramoff entered at 4:23 p.m. and left at 4:49 p.m. On Jan. 20 …

Brother Jeb would make 'great' US president: Bush — President George W. Bush praised his brother, Florida governor Jeb Bush, as an "excellent" leader who would make a "great president" of the United States, according to news accounts. — "I think Jeb would be a great president.

IRAQ INDEX SHOWS PROGRESS BEING MADE — The Brookings Institution released its latest Iraq Index this week. I would encourage you to read it all, but here are some notable items: — Per Capita GDP (USD) for 2005 is forecast to increase from the previous year to $1,051. In 2002 it was $802.

Bill Shifts Oversight of Some Iraq Aid — Political Dispute Over Funds — Comes at a Transition Point — For Bush's Reconstruction Effort — WASHINGTON — The Bush Administration's effort to rebuild Iraq is winding down, but the political battle over the money's oversight has flared anew.

FBI Looks Into Link Between CIA Agent, SD Defense Co. — The national scandal that began with Randy "Duke" Cunningham's bribery is once again pointing to San Diego. — The number three man in the Central Intelligence Agency is stepping down. — They are two buddies who graduated …

Hard-Core Republicans Are Fleeing President — Conservatives Point to Spending, Immigration — Disaffection over spending and immigration have caused conservatives to take flight from President Bush and the Republican Congress at a rapid pace in recent weeks, sending Bush's approval ratings …

Juan Williams: An Interview — I am very excited to share my interview with Fox News Contributor and Senior NPR Political Correspondent Juan Williams with you today. Mr. Williams is one of my favorite pundits on the liberal side of the aisle. You may not always agree with his arguments or reasoning but you do have to respect him.

Pitying Darfur, Ignoring Iraq — It's not easy to be an enlightened liberal internationalist these days. — An enlightened liberal internationalist wants to send troops to the Sudanese region of Darfur to protect a majority Muslim population against murderous Islamic extremist militias.

J. Michael Luttig Resigns From Appeals Court — Appeals court Judge J. Michael Luttig, a leading conservative jurist and a short-list Bush administration candidate for the Supreme Court, announced today that he is resigning from the bench to serve as senior vice president and general counsel of the Boeing Co.

April Tax Revenue 2nd-Highest in History — A flood of income tax payments pushed up government receipts to the second-highest level in history in April, giving the country a sizable surplus for the month. — In its monthly accounting of the government's books, the Treasury Department …

Of U.S. Children Under 5, Nearly Half Are Minorities — Hispanic Growth Fuels Rise, Census Says — Nearly half of the nation's children under 5 are racial or ethnic minorities, and the percentage is increasing mainly because the Hispanic population is growing so rapidly, according to a census report released today.

Does Michael Hayden Understand the Fourth Amendment? — Over at National Review Online, Adam White defends the new nominee to lead the CIA, General Michael Hayden, for his statements about the meaning of the Fourth Amendment. The statements have apparently become an important issue in the debate over Hayden's nomination.

America's new "silent majority" — And so tonight-to you, the great silent majority of my fellow Americans-I ask for your support. — Richard Nixon, Nov. 3, 1969. — We were reading the New York Times on Sunday, which had an interesting article about the political situation in Ohio …

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